The VTC Libraries are established to support teaching and learning activities in the VTC. These regulations are set to enable staff and students to share the Libraries’ resources effectively.

1. LIBRARY OPENING HOURSThe opening hours are determined from time to time by the Principals and Librarians-in-charge in the light of demand for use and staff availability. Details of opening hours are posted at the entrance of the Libraries.

2. ADMISSION TO THE LIBRARY

2.1. Admission to the Libraries is granted upon the presentation of a valid VTC Student Identity Card, a Staff Identity Card, a Borrower’s Ticket or a VTC Visa Card (Exclusively for Graduates and Students); validity of which is determined by the library system. These cards are not transferable. In addition, the Librarian-in-charge or his/her designated representative shall have the authority to request a user to produce his/her valid student card or staff card for identification

2.2. VTC graduates who have completed VTC programmes of at least one-year duration may apply for a Borrower’s Ticket by paying a non-refundable annual fee of $300.

2.3. Library privileges are personal and individual. They may not be transferred to, or used on behalf of another person.

2.4. Visitors are admitted only with the permission of the Principals and Librarians-in-charge or the library senior staff on duty.

2.5. The Librarians-in-charge may from time to time make special regulations regarding admission to and use of particular areas of the Libraries.

3. CONDUCT OF LIBRARY USERS

3.1. All library users should follow the instructions on the proper use of the Libraries as displayed in the Libraries or given verbally by the library staff. All library users should conduct themselves in a manner that does not interfere with the comfort or use of the Libraries by others.

3.2. All library users must enter and leave the Libraries through the normal entrance and exit unless directed otherwise by library staff or authorised person.

3.3. At the request of library staff or authorised person, all library materials and personal belongings must be shown for inspection at the library entrance and exit. Library users may also be asked to show the contents of their bags.

3.4. Anything that is likely to soil library property or in the opinion of the library staff may interfere with the proper use, and management of the Libraries is not permitted inside the Libraries. For example food, drink, ink, scissors, razor blades, cutters, trolleys/folding carts, etc. are not allowed in the Libraries without the permission of Librarian-in-charge.

3.5. Silence must be observed in the Libraries.

3.6. Use of mobile phones and pagers in the Libraries are prohibited. Library users should switch off them before entering the Libraries. Any infringement of this Regulation will result in the following penalties:

Table 1

1st offence within 12 months

Offence recorded.

2nd offence within 12 months

Offence recorded. The offender will be interviewed by the Librarian-in-charge.

3rd offence within 12 months

Offence recorded. The offender will be interviewed by the Librarian-in-charge and the Library will issue a warning letter to the offender with a copy to the relevant Head of Department.

3.7. Eating, drinking, smoking, videos / photographs shooting and playing games are not permitted in the Libraries.

3.8. All library furniture, equipment and library materials must be kept clean.

3.9. Library users are requested to sit in the places provided. Tables and chairs may not be relocated.

3.10. Books and personal property left unattended on carrels or tables will be considered as an illegal reservation of a reading place. Library staff have the right to remove the unattended personal belongings without prior notice and other users may take up any such reading places. Neither the library staff nor other users will be held responsible for the loss of these unattended personal belongings.

3.11. In the use of photocopiers in the Libraries, the law regarding copyright must be observed. Reproduction or duplication of audio-visual materials, computer software and copyrighted Internet resources are strictly prohibited. Users are fully responsible for any legal consequences concerning infringement of copyright that may arise. For more information, refer to the Libraries’ notice.

3.12. Computers located in the public areas of the Libraries are provided for educational purposes. They should not be used for non-educational purposes, such as gambling, viewing and downloading obscene pictures, playing computer games and unauthorized downloading and installing of software and any illegal activities over the network. Materials that may be considered offensive to others must not be displayed at any PC workstations. Infringement of these may result in prosecution and disciplinary action by the campus administration.

3.13. The Librarians-in-charge or the authorised person on duty may exclude any person who infringes the Library Regulations or who acts in any way which may interfere with the convenience of other library users or with the normal operations of the Libraries.

4. BORROWING REGULATIONSEligible VTC staff and students with a valid Student/Staff Identify Card or Borrower’s Ticket may borrow library items from any of the VTC Libraries in person or through Inter-Campus Library Loan. Validity of the Card/Ticket is determined by the library system. VTC Visa Card holders (exclusively for graduates and students) are allowed access to the Libraries but without borrowing privileges.

4.1. Identification: Valid Student/Staff Identity Cards or Borrowers’ Tickets must be presented when borrowing library materials. The cards and tickets are not transferable.

4.2. Loss of library cards or tickets: Loss of Student/Staff Identity Cards or Borrowers’ Tickets must be reported to the Library Circulation Counter immediately. In the loss of Library Borrower’s Ticket (Graduate, Retiree, Professional Diploma/Certificate Course and any LRC-issued Library Tickets), the LRC will charge for a replacement ticket. The replacement charge of $50 will be payable to the LRC. The card or ticket holders shall be held responsible for the damage, loss and return of all loaned items.

4.3. Suspension of borrowing privileges: Breach of any Library Regulations may result in the suspension of borrowing privileges.

4.4. Change of personal information: Any change of personal information should be reported to the library staff at the Circulation Counter immediately.

4.5. Borrowing procedure: All library materials must be properly checked out at the Circulation Counters before they can be removed from the Libraries. Any infringement of this Regulation may lead to disciplinary action.

4.6. Loan quotas and loan periods: The maximum number of items in any period that a borrower may have on loan is as follows:

* Loan period for reserve items varies with individual Campus Libraries.** Availability of non-print materials for loan is subject to copyright terms offered by the suppliers.
*** Students who are attending VTC programmes of more than 12 weeks with a valid student card issued by the relevant departments.
# All loaned portable computers should not be taken out of the campus and should be returned to the circulation counter by the borrower in person on the same day (30 minutes before the library closes or any time specified by the library).

4.7. Non-circulating materials: Only library circulating materials are normally allowed to be charged out of the Libraries. Under exceptional circumstances, staff may obtain special permission from the Librarians-in-charge or the library senior staff on duty to borrow non-circulating materials for a short period.

4.8. Return: All loans must be returned to the circulation counter or book drop on or before the due dates. All loans must not be returned by mail.

4.9. Claim return: The borrower is responsible for the loaned items that are claimed to have been returned if the items are not found in the Libraries or are not charged out to another patron. The overdue fine, if any, will continue to accumulate until the items are found or confirmed lost by the borrower. The borrower will have to pay for a replacement cost when the accumulated overdue fine has reached the maximum fine (Table 3). The cost of replacement is stipulated in the Regulation 4.16.

4.10. Renewal: No loan may be renewed if another borrower reserves the item or the limit on the maximum loan period with renewals has been reached (Table 2). All library fines must be settled before any renewal is allowed.

4.11. Book reservation: A reservation service for items on loan is provided for library users.

4.12. Overdue/Pre-Overdue notices: Although overdue/pre-overdue notices are sent to individual borrowers, it is the responsibility of borrowers to return their loans on time. Non-receipt of such notices will not be accepted as a valid reason for waiving or reducing the overdue fines.

4.13. Overdue fines: Borrowers are responsible for returning their loans on or before the due date. An overdue fine calculable immediately from the day following the due date (excluding days when the Libraries are closed) will be charged at the following rates for all categories of borrowers:

Table 3

Class of Loan Items

Fine

Maximum Fine

Normal Items (Books, non-print materials and back issues of periodicals)

$1 per item per day

$30

Reserve Items

$1 per item per hour

$30

Equipment & Accessories

$1 per item per day

$30

Portable
Computers

$100 per set per day

$500

4.14. Payment of fines: All fines should be paid to the Libraries when overdue loans are returned. Non-payment of fines or non-return of overdue items will lead to suspension of further borrowing. Non-payment of outstanding fine or fee will also lead to the withholding of students’ study transcripts, award certificates and related certification by the institutes of VTC.

4.15. Long overdue loan: Any loan that has reached the maximum overdue fine (Table 3) will be assumed lost. The borrower will have to pay for a replacement cost, which is stipulated in the Regulation 4.16. All of these library materials will remain the property of the Libraries even if they have been found later.

4.16. Loss and damage of library materials: Any defect, loss or damage to a library item must be reported immediately to the library staff on duty. Borrowers shall be held responsible for any loss, damage or disfigurement by writing or other marks while the materials are in their charge, and shall be required to pay the full cost of replacing or repairing such materials. The cost of replacement, which is non-refundable, will be either the actual cost of the item or $350 for cost-untraceable items, plus $50 processing cost and any overdue fines accrued. All damaged or lost library materials if found will remain the property of the Library even after replacement costs have been paid. If the payment is not settled within one month, the borrower will be referred to the relevant Department for appropriate action.

4.17. Departure from the Council: Staff members are responsible for returning all loans before cessation of employment with the Council. Students must return all loans on withdrawal or on graduation.

4.18. Special restrictions and rules: The Librarians-in-charge may restrict or preclude the loan or use of any library materials. Notwithstanding the above Borrowing Regulations, the Librarians-in-charge shall have the discretion to make special rules on library use and borrowing as deemed appropriate for the proper management of library facilities.

5. MUTILATION AND THEFT OF LIBRARY MATERIALSBooks and library items including AV equipment and computers are the property of the Libraries and must not be mutilated or defaced. Any deliberate, unauthorized removal of library property from the Libraries or the mutilation of library materials, are serious offences.

5.1. The infringement of leaving the Library with uncharged library materials will result in the following series of penalties:

Table 4

1st offence within 12 months

Offence recorded and verbal warning issued to the offender by Library staff.

2nd offence within 12 months

Offence recorded. The offender will be suspended from borrowing library materials for one week and will be interviewed by the Librarian-in-charge.

3rd offence within 12 months

Offence recorded. The offender will be suspended from borrowing for one month and the case will be reported to the Campus Principal and the relevant Head of Department.

5.2. It is considered to be a very serious offence when a library user deliberately removes library materials from the Library without proper discharge. The Library will record the offence and the offender will be suspended from borrowing for one month and the case will be reported to the Principal and the relevant Head of Department.

5.3. Mutilating library materials is also considered to be a very serious offence. The Library will record the offence and the offender will be required to pay for the cost of the mutilated materials according to Library Regulation 4.16. The offender will be suspended from borrowing for one month and the case will be reported to the Principal and the relevant Head of Department.